Machine for uniting knit fabrics.



v E; 0. DLJMS.

MACHINE POB. UNITNG KNIT FABMCS,

APYLIGATION 'FILED Am. 22, 1909.

' Patente-a Jan. 14, 1913.

mmm@

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Z/z/z'znesses x JVM E; 0.'DAv1s`. MACHINE FR UNITING KNITZLBABRIG'S.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. 22", 1909-..

E. 0. DAVIS. MACHINE-FOR UNITINGKNIT FABRICS.

oa, mqm 1m 5 AHH .S um TVH. 2 as nl 4 e3. A' m i a .3 8 4 m. w DL v 0 w w n, 4 m uw P. A D E m M N m M T .d m. M4 L 0: n 5 A w O4 /3 7 n 4 2.4 Qu 4. s O 5 5 0 9 1 i--VuNrr-ED srnrns PATENT, OFFICE.

EDWIN o. DAVIS, oF Panneau, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR UNITIN G- KNIT FABRICS.'

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14,1913. Application led April` 22, 1909. Serial No. 491,511.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN O. DAVIS, citizen of. the United States, residing at Pa- A ducah, in', the county of McCracken and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Uniting Knit Fabrics, of which the fol'- lowing is a specication.

My inventlon relates to improvements 1n machines for uniting knit fabrics, the ma-.

chine being adapted to unite or connect the meeting edges 'of two pieces or portions of knit fabric by joining the loops of the adjacent edges thereof by means of an elastic seam or chain of stitches.

AThe present embodiment of the invention is particularly designed for closing the usual opening in the toe portion of a knltted stocking and Vis designed to form an elastic chain of stitches for joining the adjacent loops ofthe two `portions of fabric, said elastic chain or seam being formed transversely in the toe portion of the stocking and being adapted to coperate with the `loops of the stocking fabricto provide transverse elasticity to this portion of the stocking,

The machines of this class now in use are usually provided with an intermittently revolving ring. of impaling-pins and reciproeating loopers and needles adapted to be reciprocated while the impaling needles are in a stationary position. These short intermittent movements of the ring of impalingpins interfere with the speed of the operator in'placingthe loops of the fabric to be joined upon the impaling-pins and oftenresults in nervousness on the part of the operator, l The present invention relates more particularly to mechanism for imparting a continuously and uniformly revolving movement l, or motion to the ring of impaling-'pins, and

means for imparting a combined reciprocatory and lateral, movement to the curved thread needle as the latter is passed through the loops of the fabric and above the impaling-pins whereby said thread needle is carried laterally to correspond with the movement of the adjacent impaling-pi-ns.

j .'With the above mentioned objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings'showing one of the embodiments of the invention, and particularly pointed out in the 4'appended y clalms.

Referring to the drawings, forming a I i part of this specification, Figure 1, is a top plan view of a machineconstructed in acf cordance with my mventlon. F 1g. 2, a side 'f and thread needle when the latter arev1n their initial or receded positions. Fig. 4, a similar view showing the relative position o-f the parts when in their extreme projected or extended positions. Fig. 5 an enlarged 70 detail top plan view of the mechanism for imparting a combined reciprocatory' and lateral movement to the reciprocatory thread needle.' Fig. 6, a front eleva-tion ofthe same. Fig. 7, an enlarged detail per- 754 spective view of the dual cam-body for imparting the combined reciprocatory and lateral movement to the thread needle. Fig. 8,

' a side elevation of the stitch carrying guldearm and its mountings illustrating `the relative position of the parts with respect to' the ring of impaling-pins. l

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the 4 drawings.A i 85 The improved machine comprises a stationary bed-plate 1, provided with an upwardly and outwardly projecting supporting-arm 2. The arm 2, terminates in a bear-1' ing-head 2a, carrying a vertical-shaft 3, and 90 a stationary-supportingdisk or dial-platea. The stationary supporting d-isk or dial-plate 4, may be providedwith the usual ring 5, vcarrying a peripheral series of outwardlyextending impaling-pins 6. The loops 'of 95 the fabric to be` united areplaced over the impaling-pins- 6, vin a well known manner and the ring of impaling-pins is given. a continuous and uniformly revolving movement by the mechanism to be now described. 10Q.

' `wlieel 19, it is apparent that .t

CID

. Awn into gear .vitli tbe driving1 pulley Y, oy o'ieans ot a slid a bly mounted olnteli mein bei' 1l, adapted to be operated by means olf" a elnleli operating handle or lever 12, in. well lrnown manner.

ji vertically movable sliatt Carrying arm or member 13, extends outwardly at right angles to the drivingebaitt 3, and is provided at itsrear with a bearing-bead 13, iiivotally-inounted npon the drivingeliait 8. llie arm or member 13, provided in eaoli end n'itli depending` bearings lit, carrying a sliatt 15, said eliaft receivingits motion by mea-ns ot a bevel-gear 153, meshing with a bevel-gea 17, on the driving-shaft 3. The shaft Carrying; arm or member 13, is -provided at its outer or tree end vvitli a Worin gear 13, normally mesliing with a gearivlieel 19. 'lllie gear=-nlieel 19, is carried upon one end ot' a sbaiy :20, said sbat't being mounted in dependingA bearings 21, beneath Vtbe .stationary enpportingl dislt or dial-plate fl. The shaft 20, is provided one end Witli a pinion :22, meshing` ivitli a raelr (not shown) on tbe Under side of tlierring4 5, carrying impaling-pins 6. liilien tbe worm gear 13, in gear or in inesli with tbe gear be Lgearing fle- .scribed will impart a continuously and uniformly revolving motion to tbe ring 5, and inipalingpins G. its a means tor throwing tbe Worin ,fre-ar 13, ont ot gear or mesliY ivitli tbe gear Wheel 19, the outer. or tree end. of tbe sliaitt Carrying arm or member 13, is adapted to be depressed against tbe resistance oit a coil spring; 23, and the Worm-gear 13, is held down in its normaler engaging" position by means ot a. eranlolever 24, pivbtally secured to one side ot the Supporting' arm Q, by means oi? a pivot-screw 25, and provided `with a dependingeam-liead or nose portion normally engaging a laterally extendingl lug 2G, ol" the arm or member 13. llllien tbe eranlt lever 24, is elevated tlie movement of tbe depending portion of tbe crank-lever 4-, will permit ot tbe elevation of tlie `free end ot tbe arm or member 13, by

slidably: monnted upon a slightly elevated bearing.

the action oit tbe coil spring 23. f It reeiprooating` carriage is portion 27. or tbe stationarysupporting plate L said carriage comprising; a horizontal `Vejuide arm Q3, and a laterally-eXtending1 arm 29, terminating in bearingr lugs 30. The guide arm 28, is slidably mounted in a bearing* bead 31., oi' a carrying` bracket 32, extending from the bed-plate 1, `and said guide-arm 28, is provided at its rear With an i'lpivardly-extending guide-head 33, provided vvitli a guide recess taking over a horizontal guide-shaft 34, Carried by a supporting arm or post secured upon the stationary supporting-plate The carriage is adapted to be reeiproeated against the resistance of a coil spring 36, one end of .the reeiproeating carriage.

ivliieli is secured to ann' portion 345", of ille A i end ot' said eo-il-sprir d' 36, boil one tbe wings 37a, of post o..

reciprocating tbe Carriage against tbe e sist-ance of' tbe coil spring 3G, one end o guide arm is provided Wit-li an upvvardiyn extending' arm Q8, Carrying a ifrietion roller- 2313 adapted to trietionally engage vvitli tli peripheral face 33, oit a dual cam-body said cam-body 33, being mounted upon tbe driving-shaft 8. A thread carrying' looper 3), is carried by tbe reciprocating carriageand is adapted to be given tlie pro-per rel ative movements 'with respect to tbe' thread needle and adjacent Cooperating' parte here@ inat'ter described, by being mounted in laterallv movable sarinom resisted eaiavin5-v b J Q* bar Ll-G, said carrying bar beingl pivotally mounted between tbe bearing` luge 30, oit tbe laterallyentending arm 29, ot tbe carriage and having one end provided ivitli a coil-l springl 41, secured to a Wing 31h, oi' a poet 37, of tbe reciprocating carriage, said sprinp; carrying7 the opposite or looper carrying end of the carrying bar against a bloelr cured on the' stationary snpporting1 Vdistr 2, and provided with an irregular sliaped to cooperate with a friet-ion della, oit carrying bar elli. i

i stiteli-eairryinp; guide-arm L13, is pivotally mounted above tbe patli ot travel ot tlie ring ot inipaling-pins by being,1 monnted in bearing; block llt, removably mounted in bearing bead flo, Carried by a braelret The tree end of tbe guide-arm is provided with aslig'btly depressed po ed, portion 43, impinging upon a plurality ott impalingpins and adapted to be oarriedjnst above and in lalil'iement with tbe adjacent loops oit the Jfabric 'to be united Carried by iin paling-pins. The depressedpointed portion i3-a, o'l'D tbe guide-m1111433, is held dovvn by tbe action vof a coil-springt?, seenred at tbe rea-r' ottlie gnidenimdtl, and carried by a bracket lid. lne depressed pointed portion 43', terminatesat' itsrear in an offset porwhich tbe loops oit thread are carried and formed by Atbe thread carrying looper 39,' and the thread-needle-to be now described.

rl`l1e curved thread-needle 49, as carried by and reeiprooated by the means berein- .trak

after described, in its initial forward movement or thrust as indicated inFi'g. 3, is4

carried close to the thread carrying looper head 39a, and between the latter and the adjacent looper thread extending to the forward loop on the off-set orshoulder portion 43h, of the stitch carrying guide-arm, said off-set or shoulder port-ion 43", acting in this movement of the looper 39, is fully shownv position to hold the looper' thread in a position to afford ample clearance. for the pas- As the latter is' sage of the thread needle. carried forward it passesthrough the two loops of fabric to'be united and at the rear of the off-set portion 43, of the stitch carrying guide-arm. When' the thread-needle 49, and looper 39, are in their extreme prljected or extended positions as indicated in Fig. 4, the thread carrying looper head 39a,

vis in a position to engage the slack of the needle thread, of the thread needle 49, as the latter starts Y to retreat. The compound 43b of the stitch carrying guide-arm. As

the loops are beii'ig formed upon the slightly elevatedshoulder' portion 43h, each loop as drawn taut by the formation of the next succeeding loop is drawn or carried down to and follows upon'the depressed portion 43, thus forming a chain of stitches'of uniform thickness and formation throughout. As t-he depressed portion 43a, included in said chain of stitches rests upon the adjacent loops of fabric united by said stitches and extends in the direction of travel as carried by the subjacent impaling-pins, said chain of stitches'are carried along said depressed portion 43, and with the adjacent loops of fabric included`in said chain of stitches whereby the-latterare carried oof the pointed free end of thel stitch carrying guide arm in the form ofan elastic chain of stitchesuniting the adjacent edges of the fabric by what may be termed a twothread over-locking seam, of uniform formation throughout, making the looped fabric' as elast-ic. at the seam. as at any other point. The depressed tapered portion 43a, resting immediately above the path of travel of the loops of fabric carried by the subjacent impaling-pins and ,extending substantially in the same horizont-al planel with that intersected by the-reciprocation of the curved thread-needle atI the rear of the off-set portion 43h, provides for the formation of a close chain of elastic stitches and contributes to its uniformity of formation, as above referred to, and the yielding 'feature of the depressed free end orV tapered the thickness of the loops of fabric to beY i 'united as well as the position of sameby rea- L'son of variations in the plane of travel followed by the subjacent 'impaling-pins. When the impaling pins are free from loops ofy fabric as between intervals of work, the .depressed portion 43, together with the cham of stitches are adaptedtoimpinge, directly upon the impaling-pins whereby the latter come into frictional engagement with and carry off the chain of stitches from the free end of the stitch carrying guidearm, and an uninterrupted elastic chain of 'stitches is perfectly formed between the intervals of Work thus resulting in perfectly formed stitches at the terminal portions of the seam. f

The curved thread-needle 49, is carried by and reciprocated over and above each of the impaling-pins by. means of an oscillating arm 50,'carriedtupon a bearin -shaft or pin 51, extending from the side o the supporting-arm 2, of the machine. The oscillating arm 50, is 'adapted to be reciprocated by means of a pitman or connecting arm 52, said arm 52, being adapted to have lateral movement with respect to its connected ends by being pivotallyV secured at each end in bearing-lugs 53a, of bearing-heads 53. One of lthe bearing-heads 53, is mounted upon Se crank-pin 54, of the dual cam-body 38, and the other is pivotally-mount-ed to a shortv arm 50a, of the oscillating arm 50. This connection of the oscillating arm 50, with respect to the connecting arm 52, enables the loscillating arm 50, and the thread-needle carried thereby to be carried laterally during their reciprocating.' movements and while the thread-needle is in the loops of the fabric to correspond `wit-l1 the movement of the adjacent impaling-pins -beneath by the mea-ns to be now described.

The oscillating-arm 50, is provided at its upper portion with two bearing heads 50", between which is interposed a guide-arm 55, depending from a laterally movable guldeblock or second bearing member 56, mounted o-n a second bearing shaft o-r pin 57, extending from the side ofthe supporting arm 2. The bearing member 56, is adapted to have lateral movement on the bearing shaft or pin 57, and is adapted to be reciprocated thereon by means of a laterally oscillating member 58, pivotally-mounted at the side of the supporting-arm 2, said laterally oscillating member 58, being pro-vided with an arm 58a, taking into a recess open, ing 56a, of the bearing member 56, and a second arm 58D, provided with a friction roller 59, adapted to frictionally engage the side face 38h, of the dual cam-body 38. By reason of the elevated and depressed porwir. a u

tions of the cam or side face 38, of the cambody the oscillating member 58, is operated whereby the bearing member 56, ivill be moved upon the bearing pin 57, and to and from the resistance of a coiled spring GO, surrounding the pin 5T, and abutting against one side of the bearing member 5G. By reason of this movement it is evident-that a similar lateral movement ivill be imparted to the bearing heads 50", and oscillating` arm 50, so that as the latter is reciprocated it vvill be Anim'ed laterally and lthus carry the thread needle during .its reciprocatory movements in the loops of the fabric to cor respond with the movement of the impalingpins caried by the continuously rotating ring.

From the foregoingl description, taken in lconnection with the accompanying` dravvings, the operation and advantages of my invention wvill le readily understood.

Having thus described my invention7 "what l claim and desire to secure by -Letters Patent isc l. ln a machine for uniting knit fabrics, a series of impalingpins, a yielding stitch carrying,` guido-arm provided with an olf-set depressed tapered portion extending' above a plurality of 'the adjacent loops of fabric to be united on said impaling-pinsT and a reciprocating thread needle and looper cooperatingi with said olf-set tapered portion ,0f said guide-arm.

2. ln a machine for uniting knit fabrics, a stationary supporting plate7 a ring of impalHig-pms rotatably carried thereby, a

stitch carrying guide arm provided with a pointed olf-set portion mounted above the path of travel of said ring of impaling-pins and extending above a plurality of said impaling-pins, and a reciprocating looper and' thread. needle mounted in operative rela tionship to said guideearm; of mechanism for continuously and uniformly revolving said ring of impaling-pins, and means for carrying` said thread needle laterally duringl its reciprocatory movements in the loops to correspond with the rotation of said ring of impaling-pins.

3. A machine for uniting knit fabrics, comprising a stationary supporting disk, a continuously revolving ring provided with peripheral impaling-pins, a stitch carrying guide arm provided ivith depressed portion adapted to be brought into frict-ional engagement ivith a plurality of said impaling-pins, a reciprocating` thread needle adapted to pass under said stitch carrying guide arm and to pass above each. of said impaling-pins While the latter are being revolveth a reciprocating looper-hook in operative relationship with respect to said thread needle, and means for carrying said thread needle laterally during its reciprocatory movement-s in the loops to correspond accesar;

vvith the movement of the adjacent impalingpins.

Ll. ln a` machine for uniting knit fabricsv the combination with a rotary ringcarrying iinpaling-pins, and a yielding stitch carrying guide arm provided with an off-set portion above the path of said impaling-pins; of a reciprocating looper in operative relationship with respectto said otf-set portion of said stitch carrying arm, a reciprocatingthread needle adapted to cooperate with said stitch carrying guide arm and looper and to pass over and above each of said impallng-pins While the latter are being,n revolved, and means for carryingl said thread needle laterally during,l its reciprocatory movements in the loops over and above each of said impaling-pins to correspond with the movement of the latter.

5. ln a machine for unitingw knit fabrics, a series of impaline," pins, a stitch carrying; guide arm comprising" a supporting shank lli and a tapered offset free end affordingn shoulder below the terminating" portion of said shank and at the base of said tapered free end, and a reciprocating' thread needle and looper coperatingwith said shoulder and adapted to form a chain of stitches about said tapered free end as the successive loops are formed about and shed od from said shoulder. f

6. ln a machine for uniting1 knit fabrics7 the combination vvith a plurality of impalinppins, and a reciprocating thread needle and thread carrying looper; of a stitch carrying IQ ;uide arm hai/ine; a shoulder and a tapered free end extending; from the latter a substantial distance and parallel with a plurality of said impaling-pins,said shoulder constituting; the Zone of stitch formation and said tapered free end the zone of retreat. f

7. ln a machine for uniting;d knit fabrics7 a series of impalinjg, pins, a stitch carrying* guide arm comprising a shank portion and an offset pointed free end extending in a horizontal plane parallel with and in close proximity to a plurality of said impalinapins and adapted to ride upon the adjacent loops of fabric to be united on said imonline: pins, and a reciprocating` thread needle and thread carrying; looper cooperating with said tapered offset free end ofsaid guide arm and inclosing` the same in a chain of elastic stitches extendine throne-h the sub'acent loops of fabric a substantial distance from the Zone of initial stitch formation by said thread needle and looper.

8. ln a machine'for uniting` knit fabrics, a series of impaling pins, a stitch carrying guide arm having a vertically movable tapered free end adapted Ato ride upon a plurality of said imp'aling pins and having a shoulder at the base of said tapered free end, and a reciprocating thread needle and looper lll@ filo

adapted to pass beneath and over said guide arm in close proximity to said shoulder, said shoulder portion constituting the Zone of formation and said tapered free end the zone of retreat for the stitches.

9. In a machine for uniting knitfabrics, a ring of impaling pins, a reciprocating thread needle and looper, a stitch 'carrying guide arm having an offset pointed portion ofreduced diameter extending in a horizontal plane above a plurality of said impaling pins7 and an upwardly extending shoulder portion at therbase of said offset pointed portion, said shoulder portion constituting the zone of* formation for the stitches as formed by said reciprocating thread needle and looper and said pointed free end extending therefrom constituting the Zone of retreat for the chain of stitches carried by the adjacent loops united on said impaling pins. y .Y

l0. In a'machine for uniting knit fabrics, a ring of impaling pins, a reciprocating thread needle and thread carrying looper, and a stitch-carrying guide arm comprisinga shank portion and a tapered portion oiset from said shank 'portion and extend- -tial distance from the zone of with the loops united on said impaling-pins by the chain'of stitches land forming a Zone of retreat for the stitches. Y'

1I. In a machine for uniting knit fabrics, l

a series of impaling-pins, a stitch carrying guide arm terminating in a tapered free end extending parallel with and in close prox i;nity to a plurality ofA said impaling pins, and a thread needle and thread carrying looper adapted' to pass` beneath and over said tapered free end, respectively, and forming a chain of stitches about said tapered free end and through the subjacent loops of fabric on said impaling-pins-for asubstanl initial stitch formation.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixedmy signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

4 EDWIN O. DAVIS. Witnesses:

G. liHAnA, S. T. ARNOLD. 

